§ Mr. Mellishasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost of damage to Britsh hides and skins by barbed wire, dung, fly infestation, and so on; and whether he will take action to eliminate damage from barbed wire, dung, and so on.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI regret that such information is not readily available. Farmers themselves have a direct interest in minimising damage to their livestock.
§ Mr. Mellishasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce incentives to encourage the substitution of barbed wire by other forms of fencing, in order to reduce damage to animal hides and increase their price.
§ Mr. WigginIt is for the farmer to decide on the type of fencing which is best suited to the particular purpose and the farming system which he operates. In making his decision he may take account of the fact that capital grants are available at the rate of 22.5 per cent. under the agriculture and horticulture grant scheme and at 32.5 per cent. under the agriculture and horticulture development scheme. I do not consider that different rates of grant for barbed wire fencing could be justified.
The cost of erecting electric fencing, which is eligible for grant, is approximately one-third of that of a conventional post and wire fence and the use of this type of fencing is increasing, but it is not always suitable.